Last year we used part of our tax return to set up a school supplies budget for that year, and then we took that amount, divided it by 12, and started saving that amount of money each month.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I'm sorry you're hurting. I wish there was something that would take the emotional pain away :crying:

After 2 significant ice storms over the last 5 or 6 years, the trees have weakened. Those winds + weakened trees have New Englanders plenty concerned. 2 feet of snow isn't a big deal. Power outages in the winter ARE a big deal. The gas stations were mobbed yesterday because no power means their pumps won't run. Two of the gas stations we tried were out of gas, and one had long, long lines to get in. DH ran out this morning and got some so we can run the snowblower and the generator if we lose power. I'm looking forward to the snow, but not the prospect of losing power or having a tree fall on my house.

Bump. Really? No one has even looked at this?

I'm planning for next year and I'm looking for the best supplements for ancients -- books, videos, craft projects, etc. We plan to focus on mythology in literature and take the mythology exam, so any must-have book recommendations for that would be appreciated as well. And in case it makes a difference, my kids will be young 5th graders. DS will be 10 and DD will be 9. He is a very strong, quick reader. She has strong comprehension skills, but is a painfully sloooooooooooow reader. Thanks!

I have a similar issue with my kids, only they're closer in age. In our case, the younger child is academically ahead of the older child in some areas, and it was starting to affect DS's self-esteem about a year ago. I often point out and praise him for the areas in which he excels. It can be difficult because kids like this don't always excel in academic subjects. I know you said you have a tough time getting through some of your basic subjects, but is there any way once/week or so you can give them time to work on independent projects? I just started this with my kids yesterday, and my reluctant learner researched and took 2 pages on notes on how to build his own terrarium! I had the kids join DIY.org and let them pick projects they wanted to do from there.

2 wrongs don't make a right. If we want to show that our country is more civilized than Arab nations, celebrating the death of another human (or demon wearing a person-suit -- that's how I viewed Bin Laden) doesn't make us look much better. I was at a birthday party for a friend when they announced his death, and a couple of her friends started cheering. I had to leave. It made me sick -- literally -- I almost threw up. I never thought I'd have such a strong reaction, but then again I never expected to see such jubilation from the people at the party over a death. He deserved to die. He had to die. I felt a sense of relief that he was gone, but disgust to the core of my being that others would celebrate it with such joy and enthusiasm. All I could think of was how people used to come out for public executions as a form of entertainment. We look at those people and think of them as savages, but the reaction of people in this era to Bin Laden's death wasn't any better. I think the most of the people on this thread who have commented they are glad when someone like Bin Laden or someone like this kidnapper dies mean they feel a sense of relief -- not joy. As far as the kidnapper goes, I'm sorry the police felt it was necessary to kill him, but they may not have had a choice. Their life or a crazy man's life? I was pretty certain that if he didn't send that boy out soon, he was going to die, and maybe he wanted that. If he wanted to live he would have let the boy go and surrendered.

My son is also an August birthday. We've kept him mostly at grade-level, but it has been a struggle. I decided this year to hold him back in math. If I could do it over again, I would have held him back a year. His fine motor skills have always been on the weak side. Another year would have benefited him. That being said, all kids are different. Just because my son probably wasn't ready doesn't mean that your son isn't ready.

We usually start part-time in August, with my goal being that we have 2 full weeks done by the time we start back up full-time in September. We are usually done sometime in June. This year I've decided to experiment with an almost year-round schedule -- at least with spelling, Russian, typing, and math. They always read at night so I'm not worried about keeping up in literature. Once we're done the rest of our subjects for the school year, we will probably do those I mentioned at least 2-3 times/week. I feel they lose a lot in math, we started late with Sequential Spelling (I don't like that as 4th graders they're on the first book, but I felt it was best to start at the beginning) and I know they will lose so much Russian that they'll be hurting themselves if they don't keep up with it. If that works out, I might make the plunge the year after and do full year-round schooling with more breaks dispersed throughout the year.

I'm so happy you found an understanding doctor! Even if you were hysterical in person, I don't see how they can blame you after all you've been through. I had a doctor tell me when I learned I had miscarried that I could "try again." This was after a year of unexplained infertility and an IUI. Try again? I didn't know if I could even GET pregnant again. I think in her own way she was trying to be encouraging, but that wasn't it. Oh, and they stuck me in a room with pictures of developing fetuses all over the walls after telling me I had lost my baby. I think unless you've gone through it yourself you have to be a pretty special kind of person to understand what the patient is going through.

I don't think you should contact the seller. There is nothing wrong with the jacket from what you described, except it isn't exactly what you wanted. That's a risk you take when you shop e-bay. There are no tears, it doesn't smell, and the item was as described. If I was the seller I wouldn't take it back, and I'd feel put out if you asked me to.

For your K'er and 1st grader, have you considered file folder games? If you're swamped, you probably won't have time to make them or put them together, but I think you can buy them pre-made too. I used them with DD when she was small because we were stuck in waiting rooms for several hours/week while DS was in therapy. If your K'er is begging for more work and is motivated, this might be the way to go. You can also use Starfall for both. For your older child, have you considered Teaching Textbooks and headphones? My DS has similar issues as yours and won't wear earplugs, but headphones work for him. TT has been a good fit for him AND me as math was a daily battle. What about a typing program/game that can be used on the computer for the oldest and possibly the 1st grader? We're using Typer Island this year -- it's like a game. For history and science, can you do documentaries or get SOTW on cd? There's another history program we're going to use next year called History at Our House which is mainly listening to a pre-recorded lecture. When my kids were in first grade, we had a Mary Pope Osborne's version of The Odyssey on cd and the kids loved it. The 1st grader could play with his Star Wars guys while he listens, if that helps him focus. My DS plays with things while he listens to stories or lectures and it actually helps him concentrate. He won't look like he's listening, but if I ask him a question he's able to answer.

Here's mine. I don't know how the rest of you get to yours so fast!!!!! It usually takes me a day to two to get to it. Here's my week in review: http://jujsky.blogspot.com/2013/01/week-22-weather.html And here's their latest poems with the writing program I'm using & Meet the Masters: http://jujsky.blogspot.com/2013/01/combining-picturing-writing-with-meet.html

My dad cheated on my mom, my BFF's hubby cheated on her. In both cases the relationships didn't last more than 2 years. BFF's new hubby's ex cheated on him, and her relationship did last a few years, but they've since ended things.

Reading the OP, that's what I took out of it. It wouldn't surprise me if the real-life women hearing that took it the same way.

It can be assumed that DS's birth mother drank while she was pregnant because it's VERY common in Russia. He started showing pronounced sensory issues when he was about 2. His neurologist at the time said that he didn't have significant facial features of a child with FAS/D, but she felt based on his overall issues and some of his measurements, that he did have it. He went through therapy which helped quite a bit, but we always had difficulty with his impulsiveness and attention span. He also continued to have sensory issues and some mild learning disabilities. Last year, when he was 8, I couldn't take the behaviors anymore and we moved towards obtaining a more formal diagnosis. We brought him to our school district to conduct some educational testing (they were all incredibly nice and supportive) and they found a significantly large discrepancy between his verbal IQ and his other IQ score (can't remember what it's called). It wasn't a diagnosis, but explained why he's an excellent reader, but so poor in math. We took him to Children's Hospital in Boston to have a neuropsych screening/testing. They concluded that he has ADHD (combination type), developmental coordination disorder, and the least helpful diagnosis ever -- learning disability not otherwise specified (really points us in the right direction getting help for our kid). They could not confirm FAS/D without proof that the mother drank during pregnancy. They said they couldn't find any physical abnormalities that would indicate FAS/D. I won't lie to you -- he has not been an easy kid and has brought me to tears more times than I can count. I wouldn't trade him though. He's funny, sweet, and smart (even though math will probably never be his thing -- it's not mine either so I can't judge). After trying everything else, we did consent to putting him on a trial run of medication to control his ADHD this summer. It has made all the difference in the world for him. All of his good attributes shine through, and most of his difficult attributes are stifled. He says he can think now because before all the thoughts were jumbled up in his head. Some drinking in pregnancy probably won't cause FAS/D. Extreme drinking in pregnancy could. FAS/D kids have a very difficult time connecting consequences and actions/ cause & effect. They are difficult and sometimes have trouble bonding. I guess I would do what I could to find out how much the birthmother drank during pregnancy. Personally, if I knew for sure the birthmother was a heavy drinker, I wouldn't take the risk, but you have to do what your heart tells you. FAS/D has a broad spectrum and can manifest in many ways. DS's issues, if they are in fact related to maternal alcohol consumption, are all things we can deal with. I don't know that I could handle a child with more extreme disabilities. Some people can, and do it almost like that's what they were born to do. It's important to figure out your limits. FAS/D doesn't HAVE to be insurmountable, but sometimes it is. You never know how a child will be affected.

Here's mine, finally: http://jujsky.blogspot.com/2013/01/week-21-this-is-what-5-days-feels-like.html And a tutorial on marbelizing paper: http://jujsky.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-marbelize-paper.html

I'm sure you didn't enter into this decision lightly. I'm so sorry circumstances have taken this turn for you. From the things you've posted in the past it sounds like you tried and tried hard to make this work. :grouphug:

DS is doing TT3 now. He's repeating 3rd grade math this year (different curriculum last year) in part because he still didn't have his facts memorized. 1-2 days/week, we drill with flashcards instead of doing his TT work. It has been a long, slow process, but he's FINALLY getting it! Yesterday he got through the entire stack without making a mistake. It took him awhile and he had to stop and think about several of them, but he's getting there. I don't know if that approach would work for your child. I love TT, but I agree that to learn the multiplication facts, there isn't much review. I wish they would build a couple of games into their software that you could log into at will. I know we're going to have to drill, drill, drill with division too, because I tried asking him things like, "4 X ? =20" and he had no idea, even though he can do 4 X 5. The nice thing about TT is it's only 120 lessons, so I feel I can take the time to do all of this extra drilling work without getting behind in the curriculum.

You suggested this as a possible punishment for another child and used the term "ugly haircut." Yes, I do consider that abuse. Altering a child's appearance in a negative way as a punishment is mentally and emotionally abusive behavior.

I am stunned that you would actually post something like this. My best friend's mom did this to his little sister as punishment for lying or something. The girl was a pre-teen, and was mortified. Everyone thought the mom was emotionally abusive and insane. You know what? She is.

It's been 8 years since I had my youngest, but my favorite hand-made shower gift was a set of extra-large, double-sided receiving blankets my aunt made for me. I used them for everything! DD was the world's crankiest baby and I had to swaddle her for a long time -- far after she had outgrown the skimpy little receiving blankets sold in stores. They were also large enough to make great play blankets/tummy-time blankets when we were out and about, or I could use it as a changing pad if needed. I've made and given them for shower gifts several times since then.

You're lucky. Ours flat-out refused, and said it is not medically proven to help. We appealed it and got the same response. Our insurance at the time was Blue Cross Blue Shield.

This has been my experience too. DS struggles with spelling, but is doing very well with this program because there is no pressure and very few tests. DD was always great with our previous spelling programs (memorizing a list of words), would test early, and always get 100. She gets very frustrated with this program. I will say that despite her frustration, I'm finding fewer spelling mistakes in both of their written work. In previous years DD would memorize her words for a test and then a few weeks later would misspell them if they came up in her writing.

Our typical day varies from day to day depending on what we have going on for outside activities. Some days are heavier, some days are much lighter. Today is about a typical Monday: Spelling Math Grammar Handwriting Russian (Rosetta Stone) Typing Break Literature History Biology Logic Many of these things (handwriting, logic, spelling) are pretty short -- 10 minutes or so each. On some days we do earth science instead of biology, or writing instead of or in addition to history. We also do art 1-2 times/week. School on a typical day takes about 6 hours, including lunch.